One day while the Buddha was asking after the monks in their quarters, he noticed one person lying prostrate on his bed. This monk saw the Buddha, but lacked the strength to get up and bow in homage.
Consoling the monk, the Buddha asked, “How is it you are this ill and nobody is looking after you?” The monk answered, “World Honored One, I am lazy by nature. Even after becoming a monk, I have never shown any real concern for others. When I was assigned to care for the sick, I neglected my duties. Now it is my turn, and nobody is willing to come and care for me. Should I not be ashamed?”
After hearing his story, the Buddha changed the monk’s soiled sheets and swept his room clean. The Heavenly King Shakra, moved by the Buddha’s unconditional compassion, also came forward to bathe the sick man. When all was finished, the Buddha gently stroked the monk with his hands. In a heartbeat, the sick monk felt revived in body and mind; his suffering was replaced with a feeling of measureless tranquility.
The Buddha said to the monk, “Since becoming ordained, you have been idling away your precious time instead of practicing to free yourself from samsara. That is the reason for your illness and suffering. I hope from now on, you will devote yourself to practicing wholeheartedly.”
Hearing the Buddha’s admonishment, the monk prostrated in repentance. “Buddha, I am forever in your debt. If not for your great compassion, I would have died and continued drifting in the ocean of suffering. From now on, I vow to seek supreme enlightenment and liberate all living beings.”
After he recovered, the monk was unwavering in his commitment to Buddhadharma and attained the fruit of arhatship.
REFLECTION
The sutras teach, “Before realizing buddhahood, develop good affinity with all.” Caught up in the pace of modern life, we can easily be indifferent to the needs of others, or overly critical rather than generous with praise. But if we can slow down and show concern for the people around us, we will be rewarded beyond all imagination.